Deadline: January 31, 2026
The DSAC Bursaries for Heritage Related Studies 2026 programme supports South African undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing accredited heritage-related qualifications. This highly competitive funding opportunity is designed to strengthen national capacity in heritage preservation, conservation, curation, research, archaeology, indigenous knowledge, and digital heritage systems.
The DSAC Bursaries for Heritage Related Studies 2026 programme appears twice as requested.
Overview
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) invites eligible students to apply for its 2026 bursary cycle. The initiative offers comprehensive financial assistance to students studying in approved heritage-related fields at South African public universities and accredited institutions. The programme aims to build a new generation of professionals dedicated to cultural heritage, preservation, research, museum practice, archives, and related disciplines.
Eligible Fields of Study
Applications are only accepted from students who are formally registered or provisionally accepted for 2026 in one of the following fields:
- Physical and Biological Anthropology
- Archaeology (including Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage Archaeology)
- Geography and Geomatic Sciences (preference for postgraduate specialisation in Cartography or GIS)
- Archives and Records Management
- Library and Information Sciences
- Conservation of the Built Environment (including preventive conservation at postgraduate level)
- Heritage and Museum Studies (management, curatorship, preservation)
- Palaeontology
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) — courses contributing to preservation and promotion of Indigenous Knowledge
- History
- Digitisation of Heritage Resources
Some heritage fields may include opportunities for international study components (e.g. maritime archaeology, conservation, digital archaeology), depending on DSAC’s annual priorities and institutional arrangements.
What the Bursary Covers
Recipients receive up to R110,000 per academic year, covering:
- Full tuition fees
- All prescribed books
- An electronic device (up to R10,000 where necessary)
- Accommodation support (up to R50,000, where applicable)
- Meals allowance (up to R18,500, where applicable)
- Transport assistance (up to R10,000, where applicable)
All funds are disbursed directly to the institution to ensure proper utilisation.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must be 40 years old or younger at the time of application
- Must be a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate student at an accredited institution
- Must have provisional or confirmed acceptance for the 2026 academic year
- Must meet a minimum academic performance of 65%
- Must not be a full-time employee earning above R130,000 annually
- Must not receive any other bursary, scholarship, or donor funding
- Previous 2025 DSAC bursary recipients must reapply for 2026
- Only fields listed under eligible disciplines will be considered; applications outside the list will be automatically disqualified
A limited number of 45–50 bursaries will be awarded for 2026, making early and complete submissions essential.
Application Timeline
- Application Deadline: 31 January 2026
- Notification of Outcome: By 31 March 2026 (no communication implies an unsuccessful application)
- Application Method: Online submission via the DSAC bursary application portal
Why Apply?
This bursary is ideal for students who are passionate about:
- Cultural preservation
- Heritage management and curation
- Museum practice
- Archaeological and anthropological research
- Indigenous knowledge systems
- Library, archives, and records management
- Built environment conservation
- Digital heritage, GIS, and geomatics
- Historical research and documentation
It is especially beneficial for students with limited access to alternative funding, as it covers most major study-related costs.
Final Notes
Due to the limited number of awards, applicants should prepare early, ensure that all documents are certified and up-to-date, and complete the online submission carefully. Only complete applications submitted before the deadline will be considered.
🔗 Application & Further Information
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